Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Thank you SOOO much for the amazingly positive response to my last chapter. The fact that you guys have steadily kicked this story past the 200 review mark has just blown my mind! :D
*Added note* HA... Just realized I've been wrongly using the name MCCARTHY for Emmett, when it's actually MCCARTY. Man, I wish you guys would've jumped on me like a pack of rabid bunnies for that mistake... would've saved me from feeling like a dumbass. :P It's all fixed now, and can I say, you see any future errors like that (aside from the ones I point out that are deliberately wrong) please, give me hell for it.
"So, what is it you want me to do exactly?" Emmett asked, bouncing lightly on his toes.
It was the second time Bella had to be asked that question.
They were standing in the place that had been deemed Jasper, Rose and Emmett's 'special' spot and Bella had been touched that they considered her worthy enough to offer her an 'exclusive membership' (Emmett's words) to the place. She decided it was definitely an appropriate place to let them in on her secret. Of course, Emmett had immediately demanded some sort of proof.
She had been about to offer up her suggestion when Emmett had conveniently walked into a small beam of light that had penetrated the dense foliage. Bella had gaped when his skin burst into a thousand diamond-like sparkles.
"I... what? What is that? Do you all do that?" She stared in wonder at Jasper and Rose when they nodded their agreement. "Why didn't you show me that yesterday?" she asked Jasper.
"Must've slipped my mind."
"That," she exclaimed pointing at a glowing Emmett, "slipped your mind?"
She snuck a peek at Nan, who looked torn between amazement and amusement. I was right, Nan. Bram is definitely spinning in his grave right now.
She turned her gaze back to Jasper who looked slightly pained. "We could do without the Saturday Night Fever, Darlin'."
Bella was embarrassed to realize she had been humming 'Stayin' Alive' under her breath.
"I'm sorry," she said, attempting to placate a pouting Emmett (who had thankfully moved out of the spotlight.) "It's just a bit of a shock to the senses." She paused, thoughtfully. "Huh. Guess it explains why you all missed school those rare sunny days. Can't very well show up to school lit up like a disco..." she trailed off at the three blank looks being directed at her, though she could detect humor sparkling behind the similar sets of topaz eyes. "Right. That's not the reason we're out here. We..." She flushed. "Uh, what was I doing again?"
"Proof," Jasper supplied with a smirk.
Bella nodded. "Right. I want you to run, Emmett." Bella paused and turned to Jasper. "How keen are your senses anyways? How far can you hear?"
Jasper raised an eyebrow. "You know, Emmett can just go behind that tree and mumble something and you won't hear him?"
"No, but you will. I want to make sure there are no doubts. So how far?"
"At least a mile." Emmett had already taken off before Jasper finished the sentence, Nan unknowingly on his tail.
Five minutes later, Nan appeared first with Emmett only a few seconds behind her. With a grin, Nan floated to Bella's side and, though it really wasn't necessary, leaned over to whisper in her ear.
"I am NOT repeating that!" Bella yelped, glaring at Emmett as her face flushed.
"Repeating what?" Emmett challenged.
"That you and Rose... that you guys... arg..." She stomped over to Rose and harshly whispered the rest of it in her ear.
"Emmett!" Rose barked, leveling her own icy glare at him. "That was one of those never talk about again moments!"
Emmett offered his most innocent little boy look. "It had to be something nobody else knew, babe."
Jasper looked thoughtful. "Huh. That explains that night when you came home complaining about pine needles being stuck in your-"
"Shut. Up." Rose ordered through clenched teeth, shooting him her patented 'finish that sentence, and I'll rip off your arms and beat you to death' glare.
Emmett was too busy being stunned to laugh.
"Well I'll be damned," he said, mystified before his face broke into a large dimpled smile. "I can't believe I got little Bells to say..."
"Don't," Jasper warned when Bella's cheeks darkened further and Rose's glare intensified.
"Fine." Emmett pouted. He began to look around. "So, she's here right now?"
Bella nodded her head in the direction of the medium size moss covered rock Nan had drifted over to sit on.
Emmett shifted his gaze, squinting his eyes and giving the impression that he believed if he stared hard enough, she'd suddenly materialize.
"And she's always around?"
Bella shrugged. "Like this? Yeah, pretty much since I've been eleven." She exchanged a fond smile with Nan.
"Yeah , but I mean, like, always."
"I-" Bella paused slightly. "You better not be asking what I think you're asking," she warned the same time Jasper groaned, "Seriously, Emmett," and Rose elbowed his gut.
Nan was shaking with laughter. "My god, Star must have her hands full with him."
Bella joined her laughter, nodding her head in agreement.
"Did she say something?" Emmett asked, rubbing his side with a small pout.
"Yeah, Nan's just wondering how Star puts up with you."
Rose cocked one dark, perfectly groomed eyebrow. "Star?"
Bella cringed. "Ugg.. sorry. Nan has a tendency to come up with nicknames for everyone. Even when she was alive, she never called anyone by their real names. Ever. Even letters she wrote would be addressed to your nickname. Not to mention a few checks that would turn out to be almost impossible to cash... I think she did that part on purpose though."
Nan flashed her a 'who me?' smile
"You almost get conditioned to it after a while. Do you know how embarrassing it is to almost call your mother Fly when you're talking to her?"
"Fly?" Jasper asked this time.
"Yeah... my mother's sort of, flighty."
"Why Star?" Rose asked curiously.
"She said you look like a glam movie star from the old pictures she used to love in the '30's."
Rose's smile managed to look both flattered and heartbroken at the same time. "That's very sweet of her to say."
"Does this mean I have one too?" Jasper questioned with a boyish grin.
Bella brushed prettily.
"She, um, calls you Ranger."
Nan started humming the Lone Ranger theme in the background and Bella flashed her a grin.
Quickly catching onto the reference, Jasper's eyes widened with delight. He gestured towards the rock. "She's still sitting there right?"
Bella nodded.
Jasper turned and pantomimed tipping a cowboy hat. "Thank you kindly, Ma'am," he said, thickening his drawl to the point where it could be compared to warm molasses.
Nan clapped in hands in delight, before a thoughtful look stole over her face, Bella was too busy swooning to really pay attention. Rose chuckled lightly at the dreamy look on her face.
"Me next! Me next!" Emmett exclaimed, waving his hand like an overly excited fifth grader. "What's mine?"
Bella snapped back to attention, flickering somewhere between embarrassment and amusement.
"This should be good," she heard Jasper murmur.
"It's Duke."
Emmett flashed a triumph smile at Rose and Jasper and struck a haughty pose. "That's cause I'm so regal right?"
"Not exactly..."
Rose was nodding her head in encouragement.
"You see.. Nan had this dog, right? To look at it, it was incredibly intimidating. Huge. The neighborhood kids were equally in awe and terrified of it, they usually went out of their way to avoid him whenever he went out for a walk. It wasn't until they saw how playful he was with me, the two of us loping happily around the yard, that they realized that he was nothing more than a marshmallow inside."
Jasper and Rose were chuckling at this point, but Emmett looked confused.
"I don't get it."
"The dog's name was Duke."
"Whaa... I share my name with a dog?" Emmett sputtered
"He died a few years before my Nan. He was my best friend ever when I was a kid," Bella admitted softly.
Emmett's face softened with affection and he quickly made his way to her and pulled her into a gentle hug while Rose and Jasper looked on fondly. "Guess it's not so bad," he mumbled. He smiled at Bella when he pulled back. "Hey, do you have one too?"
Blushing, she nodded.
"It's alright, Darlin'," Jasper said. "It's probably something special you share with your Nan. You don't have to tell us."
"I don't mind, sweetheart," Nan assured her.
"She calls me Chime."
"Chime..." She watched as Emmett rolled the name around in his head. "Bella, bells, chime. It's perfect! Wish I thought of it first," he grumbled.
Nan nodded again.
"Nan says she doesn't mind sharing it."
"Nah," Emmett replied, taking his place beside Rose again. "Jay's right, it's something special between you and your Nan, I respect that." His eyes lit up. "Hey, bells ding right? How 'bout ding-a-"
"Don't even dare."
Emmett pouted, before brightening up. "So, can she do any tricks?"
Bella frowned. "She's not a dog, Emmett."
"I'm sorry," Emmett said contritely. "I mean does she have any ghostly powers?" He waggled his fingers after he said it, making a loud 'oooing' sound.
"Nah, she pretty much hangs around watching people in the showers. She says 'nice ass' by the way."
Emmett's mouth dropped open and Jasper mirrored it.
"Chime!" Nan yelped, scandalized.
Rose tittered as Bella guffawed loudly, clutching at her stomach with tears leaking out of her eyes. "I don't know whose face is funnier, you two or Nan's."
"She... she doesn't really watch me in the shower, does she?" Emmett chuckled uneasily, looking more than a little disturbed by the thought.
"Not recently," Bella agreed.
"Bella Marie Swan," Nan warned lowly.
She sighed. Never mess with Nan when she breaks out the full name. "No," she assured Emmett. "She doesn't." Nan was still glaring at her. "Ever." She finished firmly.
Emmett nodded with relief, before he trailed his hand cockily over his chest. "It's probably a good thing she doesn't, she'd probably die all over again getting a good look at-"
A rock pinged off the side of his head. Hard.
It didn't seem to do much damage, in fact the rock appeared to be worse off, but Emmett rubbed at the spot it had hit. "The hell?"
"One of Nan's tricks," Bella mocked.
"Does she move it with her mind?" Jasper asked curiously.
"Nope, she pretty much just picks it up."
His eyebrows rose. "She can touch solid objects?"
Bella nodded. "And pass through them just as easily." She could see the next question in Rose's eyes. "Other than me, inanimate objects only." She could tell they were disappointed. "I'm not sure why the rules don't apply to me. I think it might be because I needed her to be solid."
Rose's eyes softened with understanding.
"You have to let me borrow her!" Emmett exclaimed, rubbing his hands together and chuckling diabolically. "Oh the fun I could have with Eddie boy..."
Bella frowned when Nan looked like she was seriously considering it. "No," she told both of them.
"But-" Emmett whined.
"Not a chance," Rose warned.
"Can she do anything else?" Jasper asked, his features a cross between serious and eager.
"Well, we can talk to each other mentally," she pointed at her head to emphasize, and seeing the look everyone was giving her, she clarified, "but she can't read anyone's mind. And other than that, she occasionally gets these, well, feelings."
"Feelings?" Jasper echoed. "Are you saying she knows things?" He managed to look both amused and sour at the same time and Bella just knew there was a story there. She'd have to ask him later.
"I guess you could say that. It's usually bad things though," she hesitated, "of the life threatening sort."
"HA!" Emmett yelled suddenly, making the three of them jump. He ignored Rose's scowl and pointed his finger at Bella. "The van."
"The van," Bella agreed.
Emmett preened at being right. "And I thought the ninja theory was cool."
Jasper's face was serious. "Does it happen often?"
Bella turned to Jasper and shook her head. "No. It's only happened once before, when our house burnt to the ground."
He looked pensive as he considered her answer.
"I know what you're thinking, and according to what you've told me about it; it doesn't work like Alice's. Nan doesn't actually see anything, she just gets feelings a few seconds before it happens, a minute at the most and makes judgements based on that."
Nan looked ashamed at the lack of range her gift had. "Don't be sorry, Nan," Bella spoke out loud.
Jasper turned in Nan's direction with a nod. "She's right, don't be sorry. You're gift has already saved her twice. Never be sorry for that."
He walked over towards Bella and wrapped his hands around her upper arms, staring at her intently. "Promise me you'll tell one of us if she ever gets these feelings when we're around."
"I promise," Bella replied, before hesitating. "But if we're in mixed company, I can't exactly blurt out that Nan's got one of her feelings though."
Jasper looked thoughtful for a moment, before a smile spread over his face. "Don't. Just say van."
Bella grinned and nodded, before finally noticing the dimmed smile on Rose's lips. "What's wrong?" she asked hesitantly.
"It's nothing... I," she hesitated. "I was just thinking how fitting it was that your grandmother thinks I look like a '30's movie star because that's when I was turned."
Nan looked crestfallen. "Oh dear... Chime, please tell her I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories."
"Nan wants me to tell you she's sorry if she made you rehash anything."
"No, no," Rose hurriedly assured. "It's a great nickname." She flashed a small smile in the direction of the rock. "Certainly better than any of the other ones I've been called over the years."
Emmett moved to wrap an arm around her when she released a small shuddery breath. "I should tell you my story."
Bella shook her head. "You don't have to. I understand if you don't feel ready." She felt strangely hurt by the next part. "I know you haven't know me for very long and-"
"No," Rose cut in, "you've shared such a big secret with us, and it's only fair that I show I trust you enough to do the same." She looked up at Bella. "And I do, trust you I mean. As strange as it is for me, I trust you."
"You've already told me your biggest secret. That's more than enough."
"I want to tell you," Rose replied firmly.
She took a moment to gather her strength.
"It was 1933. I was 18, and I was beautiful. My life was perfect..."
-oo-
By the time she was finished her story (which had blended into Emmett's as well), Rose was huddling in Emmett's arms as he cooed softly at her and Bella was wrapped in Jasper's, tears running down her cheeks.
What do you say to something like that? What can you say?
"I am so, so sorry," Bella choked out.
Though her eyes were still haunted, Rose managed a small smile. "It's alright. Though I wouldn't wish what happened to me on anyone, in the end it led me to the brother I never had. My twin." She gazed at Jasper with sisterly affection before turning back to Emmett. "And to my soul mate."
Emmett's eyes were suspiciously wet as he pulled her into a crushing hug. "I love you Rosie," Bella heard him whisper.
When they finally pulled out of the hug, Bella watched as Nan floated to Rose's side and hovered her hands in a caressing motion over her cheeks, humming softly to her.
"Jasper?" Rose asked, mystified. "Is that you?"
Jasper's hand paused in running though Bella's hair. "Is what me?"
"I... I feel such comfort."
"No, Rose. It's not-"
Bella lifted her head up from Jasper's shoulder. "It's Nan... she's singing to you. It's what she used to do when I was a kid and I was sad or wasn't feeling well."
Rose's grateful topaz eyes unknowingly connected with Nan's. "What's she singing?"
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."
"Thank you," Rose whispered.
"You're welcome my Little Star."
Tears pooled in Bella's eyes again. She had never wished that other people could see or hear her grandmother more than in this exact moment. She felt a cool hand caress her cheek and wipe the tears away. "Are you alright, Darlin'?"
Afraid her voice would crack if she spoke, Bella settled for simply nodding.
Detangling herself from Jasper's arms, she walked over to Rose and, not sure how receptive she'd be, wrapped her arms around her in a cautious hug. She relaxed into it when it was returned.
"Thank you for telling me," she said as she pulled away. She looked around at Jasper and Emmett. "Thank you all for telling me..." Her lip wobbled. "For trusting me.." She broke down into harsh sobs.
"What is it?" Jasper asked, bewildered, rushing to her side to pull her back into his arms.
"I... I forced you to tell me all this," she choked out between sobs, her shoulders shaking.
"Nobody forced us to do anything, Darlin'," Jasper shushed.
"But I did," she wailed. "Constantly offering you food and making you uncomfortable, and getting mad over the stupidest thing ever. I didn't mean to, but at the same time I knew exactly what I was doing. I'm a terrible person."
Jasper chuckled lightly and rubbed his knuckles across her damp, ruddy cheek. "You're adorable," he murmured affectionately.
Bella gasped indignantly and pushed him away. "I'm being serious."
"So am I. I wanted to tell you from after the first day you sat down with us at lunch."
Bella's tears tapered when she looked over her shoulder and found Rose and Emmett were nodding in agreement.
"I should thank you for speeding up the process," he said cheekily, echoing what she had said about Alice the other day.
She pushed lightly at his chest, keeping her fingers there and spreading them unconsciously over his non-beating heart. "Why?" she asked.
"Why did we tell you?" Jasper clarified.
She nodded.
Jasper reached up and cupped his cool hands around hers. "Because we knew from that moment what you were."
"What am I?"
It was Rose who answered. "Family."
Her breath hitched as she looked over her shoulder at Rose, tears welling up in her eyes at the soft, genuine smile on her face and the answering one on Emmett's. But the look on Jasper's face meant the most, because in his eyes she could see that she was so much more than that.
"Group hug." Emmett could have shouted the words boisterously, as he was wont to do, but instead they were spoken softly, almost reverently, as the three of them crowded around her, securing her loosely in their embrace. And even knowing she was surrounded by vampires that could easily crush her with the slightest amount of pressure, Bella had never felt safer in her life.
Nan, she beckoned, reaching out her hand. Nan stepped forward and entwined her fingers with Bella and all was complete in her world.
-oo-
The embrace was broken after a few long, silent moments, and Jasper could hear that even the forest had gone quiet, as if in disbelief of what was happening.
For a human to be so wrapped so trustfully in the arms of three vampires (her emotions reflecting nothing but complete trust and, his breath hitched, love) was a practically unheard of event, especially since it was instinctive for humans to naturally distrust them. Like an animal sensing a predator in their midst.
She really was one of a kind.
He could feel the familial bonds strengthening, not just between Bella, Emmett and Rose, but the ones he shared with them as well, becoming almost tangible, as the lingering ties he felt towards the rest of the Cullen's (though it was nowhere near a familial bond, you couldn't spend decades with someone and not have some sort of connection form) which had been fraying over the years, thinned even further. He opened his eyes and looked at the two of them over Bella's head and they nodded in agreement, signalling that they felt it too.
He wondered what this would mean for the four of them, and if the Cullen's felt the ties severing as well. He doubted it. They were ridiculously reluctant to acknowledge their vampiric sides, and you had to dig in deep when addressing bonds.
Emmett and Rose stepped back first, but Jasper was content to keep Bella in his arms for a few seconds longer, unable to stop the light purr of affection, which was an involuntary reaction (and one of the more humiliating vampiric traits) their kind had in response to absolute bliss. The upside was that only mates could produce that sound.
Bella pulled back, slightly wide eyed and her cheeks pinkened. She giggled and buried her face in the fabric covering his chest, rubbing her flushed cheeks across it. Jasper could feel the heat of her though the fabric and was embarrassed when the rumble in his chest deepened even more so at Bella's next words.
"Pretty kitty," Bella murmured. The embarrassment disappeared and he clutched her closer as a sappy smile spread over his face when he felt the love and affection swirling through her emotions after she said it.
The smile turned into a chuckle when he noticed Emmett shifting off to the side, obviously a little uncomfortable with the affection overload.
"Teeth hurting just a little, Em?" he teased, finally releasing Bella.
He grinned, and Jasper could tell he was relieved to be back in familiar territory.
"I am feeling a bit of a sugar high," he agreed, grinning mischievously. "Pretty kitty."
Jasper was tempted to reach over snap off a limb, but Bella took care of it by flicking Emmett's earlobe hard. It was probably the only body part of a vampire you could hit like that without fear of breaking your fingers.
"No teasing, Monkey Man," Bella warned, curling her lips deviously.
If Jasper wasn't certain of it before, he definitely was now. 'God I love her.'
Emmett turned to Rose with a wounded stare, horrified that she had shared the embarrassing nickname she had for him, which Jasper knew was due to his penchant for having to climb at least one tree every time he went out for a hunt.
Jasper smirked when Rose shrugged unapologetically.
Emmett pouted, attempting to milk the moment. Seeing that he wasn't getting any sympathy, he sighed loudly and conceded defeat. Breaking out into a dimpled grin, he slung his arm over Bella's shoulder. "You know, you're like the sister I always wanted."
Bella grinned. "What about Alice?"
"Even more so after her."
The three of them chuckled.
Thunder rumbled in the distance and Jasper looked up at the pieces of gray sky that was peeking through the trees.
"Looks like it's gonna rain. We should really head back." Offering his back to Bella, he took off in the direction of the house the other two following swiftly behind.
They were cutting through their backyard ten minutes later when their progress was halted when Alice ran out the door shouting:
"Where have you been?"
"Didn't see us coming?" Emmett quipped.
Jasper smirked. He would never get tired of that. Alice hated it when her gift was called into question and Emmett never hesitated to take every opportunity he was given to mock her.
"Very funny," Alice huffed. "Now hurry, we'll be leaving soon."
"Leaving?" Bella asked panicked. "Where?"
Alice waved a dainty hand. "Oh, it's just something we do as a family whenever it thunders. You probably wouldn't be interested."
Judging by the sudden stiffness of Bella, he guessed she hadn't missed the extra emphasis Alice had put on family and glared in her direction. She rolled her eyes and turned her head away in response. Thankfully, Bella's trepidation vanished when Emmett's exuberance once again came unknowingly to the rescue and he began bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Are you kidding?" he replied excitedly. "I can't believe I almost forgot. It's been months since the last time we got to do this. You have to come Bells!"
"Again, where?"
"To play baseball of course!"
-oo-
"You guys play baseball?" Bella questioned as Jasper dug through his closet, a little amused that vampires did something so... human.
"Only when it thunders."
"Why then?"
"Helps cover the sound it makes." He made a little 'aha' sound as his hands closed around a white garment and he pulled it out.
"Is it really that loud?"
"Louder." He held up the garment, which turned out to be a baseball jersey. It had WHITLOCK stitched on the back in navy over the number 14.
"Why 14?"
"Inside joke." He rolled his eyes. "Emmett's of course. It's referring to the number of decades we've been a vampire. We get new ones every 10 years. I'm actually due to get a new one next year."
There was hesitation in his eyes as he looked up at her and she had the feeling that he was regretting reminding her again how old he truly was, like she'd be disgusted by it. Although she could admit to be a little unsettled at how much experience he had undoubtedly acquired in that time, disgust had never factored in. It hadn't the first time she'd realized his true age, not for a single second, and it would stay that way.
"Anyone ever tell you that you look pretty good for an old guy?" she asked flirtatiously, proud that she managed to keep her blush at bay; she knew her flirting skills were a little (okay, a lot) rusty.
She seemed to get the message across though, because he grinned, the clouds disappearing from behind his eyes. "The other one says Hale, but I want you to wear this one. Will you, Darlin'?"
She'd do anything as long as he kept calling her that.
"Of course," she replied with a giddy grin.
Jasper returned it and slipped it over her long sleeve t-shirt. She was immediately surrounded in the scent of dark chocolate and cinnamon.
His pale fingers reached for the buttons and slowly began to do them up.
Bella was certain this was the most seductive thing she had ever experienced.
"You look good," he murmured huskily when he finished with the last button.
Bella held her breath as he shifted his head closer to hers, his eyes trailing down to her lips. "Very good," he reiterated, his cool, sweet breath whispering across her face.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Aren't you guys ready yet?" Alice's irritated voice spoke from the other side of the door.
Jasper jerked away with a curse.
"You can go. We'll meet you there," he barked.
"Well hurry up. We're wasting thunder."
Bella rolled her eyes. Sure.
The footsteps retreated as Jasper stalked over to the closet to angrily retrieve his own shirt. Bella leaned back slightly towards the window behind her and watched six figures dart into the woods. She grinned when Emmett turned briefly to wave up at her.
She turned back in time to see Jasper do up the final button, her heart stuttering at the intense look he was giving her.
"What?" she asked hoarsely.
He shook his head slowly then turned and offered his back. Like she did earlier, she climbed on and wrapped her legs around his waist. He slipped her arms under her knees and shifted to line himself up with the window.
"Bella?"
"Mmhm?"
"Next time, I won't be stopped."
He pushed open the window and leapt.
Just like her heart.
A/N2: Hmm... I wonder where those pine needles were... ;)
Rose's line, "It was 1933. I was 18, and I was beautiful. My life was perfect." was borrowed directly from the novel, Eclipse. Though I'm sorta not cool with doing it (it feels lazy somehow), when I researched her character and read this excerpt, I realized you couldn't get a more perfect opening line then that. All credit goes to SM.
And yes, I'm taking a few liberties with the year this takes place in (made obvious by Jasper's 'decades' comments). I know the original timeline is in 2005 and while I don't come out and really say SPECIFIC dates, I did start writing this in 2012, so that's kinda the year that was in my head.